Bowmore 10 yo 'Tempest' (56.3%, OB, first fill bourbon, Batch #1, 2009) Colour: gold. Nose: punchy, clean, crisp, peaty, coastal, mineral and slightly lemony. Not aggressive, flawless – so far. With water: this is interesting, it gets rather more spirity and aggressive when diluted, as if water had unleashed some kind of tincture or iodine and mercurochrome (is that the ‘tempest’?). But it’s soon to calm down, getting more complex, with aromas that are usually to be found in much older Islayers, such as camphor and pu-erh tea. Mouth (neat): the most superb combination of peat, lemon, pepper and iodine that one could taste, with a few spices from the oak in the background (the usual nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger). It’s no overly complex whisky but once again, the balance is impressive. And it’s so drinkable at cask strength! With water: once again, complexity arrives with water. More herbs and even pine resin, the only thing that’s just a tad disturbing is a slight ‘new oak’ note (a little too much ginger/nutmeg for my taste). But that’s nothing. Finish: long, clean and perfectly balanced once again. And very fresh. Maybe a tad sweeter than before (marmalade?) Comments: it’s great that the Distillery joined the many independents who already issued superb young clean Bowmores in recent times, even if this Tempest is a little sweeter than most. A lovable 10yo. SGP:457 - 88 points.

Nose: Smoke and peat, o’course. Chocolate. Coffee. Cracked pepper. Orange and Lemon. Some notes that aren’t far off from an Ardbeg. Caramel and pear. Some unexpected creaminess. Baked Alaska.

Palate: Sweet candy arrival, through smoke and into licorice. A lot of fresh squeezed citrus and more cracked pepper. Either very active bourbon casks leveeing these spicy notes, or a bit of sherry influence. Either way…crackling with nifty ‘Pop Rock’ surprises. There’s an earthiness here that hints at Garden Burgers, interestingly enough.

Thoughts: Hmmm…much like many first editions of named releases, I have a sneaking suspician this was a ‘best foot forward malt’. (Read: there are some older, better casks in here than we’ll see in future editions.) Great balance.